Solved Important folders to backup from C-drive before cleaning it up

[Rosaline]

Hello.
I'll be cleaning up my Windows computer to give it to my sister.
I've backed all of my personal data from Drive D.
But I might've a lot of important data in Drive C too, that I would like to back up.
I never created any folders there intentionally, so everything that might have been created there is by external programs like web browsers or office softwares.
And their config files too.
I would like to back them up.
The problem is I've not used this system for like a year so I can't recall all the folders I should back up.
Can you please help me with a list of folders where system saves user data in C drive?
Cloning isn't an option for me, cause 70% of the storage is acquired by Windows programs that I had installed in the past, and I won't need them for I'll be moving to Windows 10 and a lot of those softwares are really old and now incompatible, and I've their setup files to be on the safe side.




EDIT:

I switched to Windows 10 last week.
The only folders one needs to backup are:
C:\ProgramData\
C:\Users\<username>\


The config files I was querying about stay in:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\


More info on this.
More reading.



Thank you all.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Rosaline,

Welcome to SevenForums!

Cloning isn't an option for me, cause 70% of the storage is acquired by Windows programs that I had installed in the past, and I won't need them for I'll be moving to Windows 10 and a lot of those softwares are really old and now incompatible, and I've their setup files to be on the safe side.

You would most definately need to backup the Documents folder!

What I would actually do is to make a system image of the HDD. This way, if in the future you are missing an important file, you can mount the system image and retrieve it.

There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

I hope this helps!

 

[Rosaline]

Hi Rosaline,

Welcome to SevenForums!


You would most definately need to backup the Documents folder!

That's a must, I've had that on my checklist.



[/QUOTE]
There are two imaging programs which are very popular among members here, the first is AOMEI Backupper Standard [FREE], and the second is Macrium Reflect [FREE].

I hope this helps![/QUOTE]
Thanks, I've tried both of them, they work fine, I've also tried CloneZilla.
My problem with them is they're not browsable backups, so I would've to mount them for viewing any data, and the data is only accessible by those softwares only and mounting a 250GB image kills my system, a pretty old system.
They're really great for disk/partition backup and restore though.



I'm interested in backing up specific folders, like Documents, Downloads, Desktop, some of which I know.
But I have seen in the past, that there are a lot of other places where user data is stored, pretty deep inside the filesystem.


One more question though, when you back up AOMEI Backupper or the likes, do you restore everything to the C drive or do you restore only the files that you need from them?
If selectively, how do you recognise user data?

 

[Snick]

I would create full disk images of both drives to an external hard drive with AOMEI excellent simple user interface & free!
You know you have everything on the drives and it's all accessable with AOMIE > utility > explore image

 

[Rosaline]

I would create full disk images of both drives to an external hard drive with AOMEI excellent simple user interface & free!
You know you have everything on the drives and it's all accessable with AOMIE > utility > explore image

Thanks.

Yes, I can do that.
The thing is, it's a 500GB drive(a pretty old one), of which I've already gotten my data backups from Drive D.
My Drive C is about 320GB, and I don't think I've more than 25GB of personal data there.
Rest of the data is programs, Windows 7 based, which I already have found replacements in the new computer.
Hence, I really wouldn't be needing those data(everything except my personal data).
I could still take a backup, but I would ultimately have to find all those folders that have my data and discard the rest.


I've previously used AOMEI Backupper and Macrium Reflect, both are real gems, Backupper kind of ahead.
I had used them because I had to take a backup and wipe the drive and then restore the image to resume like nothing changed.
The thing is, this time on, I have nowhere to restore that whole image and 'cause I'm switching to a new OS, and 70% of the data in the said image won't be compatible with the newer OS.
Which is why I need to pinpoint folders where only necessary data is stored.



I hope you understand.

 

[Snick]

The thing is, this time on, I have nowhere to restore that whole image and 'cause I'm switching to a new OS, and 70% of the data in the said image won't be compatible with the newer OS.

Don't have enough info for an opinion on compatibility, more specific please:
What type of data?
What newer OS please?

 

[Rosaline]

Old OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
New OS: Windows 10 32-bit
The programs are almost all 64 bit programs, and whose counterparts are already present in my new Windows 10 32-bit OS.
The thing is, those 64 bit programs have nowhere to move to.

 

[Snick]

Why?????? are you going to 32 bit Windows 10?
Are you going to be using the same computer?
If so why not just upgrade to Win10x64
Win 7 Ultimate x64 you can upgrade to:
Windows 10 Home x64
Windows 10 Pro x64
I believe you can still upgrade for free!
How to Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free in 2019 - Laptop Mag

Would highly recommend you back up your computer(s) regularly (see my footer).
I have a 4tb Seagate USB 3.0 I use with AOMEI backupper for 2 computers I have
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 (STGX1000400) $49.99 & Free Shipping
Larger capacity if you $$ pemits!

For your thoughts:

If you have two computers, win7 ultimate x64 and win10x32
buy an external hard drive
full disk image ultimatex64 then upgrade to win10 pro x64
full disk image of win10 pro x64
full disk image of win10x32
restore the win10prox64 to the win10x32 computer
Now everything is win10 prox64 and you have two computers that all your programs and files work on, with 64/32 bit capability!
Yes, I can help you with an or all if you wish.

 

[Rosaline]

I'm really sorry for the confusion.
I currently have 2 computers, let's name them Computer 1 and Computer 2.


Computer 1:

64-bit processor, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD.
This is the one I'm planning to give away to my sister.
This is the one, where some of my old personal data are currently present.
Current OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.



Computer 2:
32-bit processor, 1GB RAM, 256GB SSD.
This is the one I'm currently using and will be using for 5 more years or so.
This is the one where all of my newer programs, 32-bit ones, that currently suffice my needs, are present.
Current OS: Windows 10 32-bit.


As you can see, I've downgraded, and I'm giving away the powerful one, Computer 1, to my sister.
You're right, I could upgrade Computer 2 into a 64-bit computer by investing some money, but the truth is I'm cutting off budgets.
And, I've also seen 32-bit programs are enough for me now, 5 years ago, I needed that extra power and hence Computer 1 was suitable, but things have changed a lot.


I've a 4TB HDD, and that's almost full, I've a lot of data in there.
And I do take a lot of backups of my new PC, that is Computer 2, Computer 1 hasn't seen any real usage for a year now.



So, the Windows 10 64-bit upgrade is what my sister will be getting.


Thanks for your assistance, in time, I'll be coming up with questions about better backup systems, management techniques and their automation.
For now, I would need to drill down the folders I think.


But if you do see any flaws in my thoughts, please let me know, you're far more experienced than me, and I would love to learn from your experiences.

 

[Snick]

Thanks for the info
Personally, I'd keep the old one and upgrade to win10x64 pro, full disk image of the new one on ext HDD, and give sis the new one minus your files of course.
on the backups.
Questions:

1. What do you have on your 4TB drive that is so filling?
2. Is everything compressed?
3. How often do you backup your computer?
4. What type of backups do you do?
5. Full disk image?
6. Incremental?
7. Differential?

 

[Rosaline]

Thanks for the info
Personally, I'd keep the old one and upgrade to win10x64 pro, full disk image of the new one on ext HDD, and give sis the new one minus your files of course.

Are you suggesting I should keep the Computer 1, upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit Pro, full disk image Computer 2 to extHDD and give my sis Computer 2 minus my data?
Or are you suggesting the exact opposite?

on the backups.

Thanks, I'm pretty sure, you use some fantastic techniques.

Questions:

1. What do you have on your 4TB drive that is so filling?
2. Is everything compressed?
3. How often do you backup your computer?
4. What type of backups do you do?
5. Full disk image?
6. Incremental?
7. Differential?

Answers:
1. 4-full system backups, 3 incremental ones, lots of tutorials, RAW photos and videos, gathered over the span of 10 years.
2. Backup images are, rest are in simple browsable format.
3. Full system, aka, cloning, once in a month; incremental, once in 3 days.
4,5. Full system for when I hit first basic setup with everything working, and stable setups for every month.
6. Incrementals in between setups where I might try something that can absolutely wreck my system.
7. Never tried that, is it advantageous over others?


EDIT:

By 4 full system backups and 3 incremental ones, I mean, I keep one full system backup (first setup), then 3 full system ones for last 3 months, and their corresponding incremental ones for last 3 months which are spaced by 3 days each.
I hope this clears up the confusion.

 

[Snick]

Don't have your complete system specs for both computers but it appears as through your old machine is more capable.
Here's a tool that you can use to collect your specs in a text file on your desktop. Download and double click to run it. BTW: you can right-click, choose edit and see the simplistic code.
View attachment SysInfo to desktop.bat
Or a description of each would probably work. Then we can Google, compare the age, make, motherboard, processor, we already know the ram and HDDs as you stated.
Big thing to me is the 64-bit and more ram, larger hard drive usually equates to better motherboard, processors CPU/GPU, etc.

 

[Rosaline]

Don't have your complete system specs for both computers but it appears as through your old machine is more capable.
Here's a tool that you can use to collect your specs in a text file on your desktop. Download and double click to run it. BTW: you can right-click, choose edit and see the simplistic code.
View attachment 407949
Or a description of each would probably work. Then we can Google, compare the age, make, motherboard, processor, we already know the ram and HDDs as you stated.
Big thing to me is the 64-bit and more ram, larger hard drive usually equates to better motherboard, processors CPU/GPU, etc.

Yes, my old machine, Computer 1, is way more powerful than the new one.
The reason I'm giving it away is it's way less portable than the new one and the power it has perfectly fits the needs of my sis.
She is into CG, so that's a starting point, that computer also has a dedicated GPU, the new one doesn't.
In short, Computer 1 is way better than Computer 2 in terms of system specs, only thing where it lags behind is portability.
My sister is okay with that as she has access to uninterrupted power almost all of the time, and she doesn't travel as much as I do (my travels are also what makes Computer 1 unsuitable for me).

 

[Snick]

OK, makes sense to me now & sounds like the right move for you two too.

 

[Rosaline]

OK, makes sense to me now & sounds like the right move for you two too.

Thanks.
May I ask you about your backup techniques?

 

[Snick]

Nothing special, I do a full disk image of both computers with AOMEI once a week on Sundays (check image integrity always). Usually keep newest 2-3 of each Drive.

Here's some good info on AOMEI Incremental VS Differential Backup - AOMEI Backupper
Video AOMEI Backupper - How To Make Incremental / Differential Backup ...
I don't make incremental or differential backups due to the complexities of trying to restore from them. It's not quite as easy as from a single image. IMHO

 

[Rosaline]

Nothing special, I do a full disk image of both computers with AOMEI once a week on Sundays (check image integrity always). Usually keep newest 2-3 of each Drive.

Here's some good info on AOMEI Incremental VS Differential Backup - AOMEI Backupper
Video AOMEI Backupper - How To Make Incremental / Differential Backup ...
I don't make incremental or differential backups due to the complexities of trying to restore from them. It's not quite as easy as from a single image. IMHO

Thanks, that was helpful.


I switched to Windows 10 last week.
The only folders one needs to backup are:
C:\ProgramData\
C:\Users\<username>\


The config files I was querying about stay in:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\


More info on this.
More reading.



Thank you all.